Central wrestler turns into hulk on mat

Only on the pages of a comic book or on movie theater screens do men with superhuman strength destroy enemies with their bare hands.

Only at Greeley Central does Weld County wrestling have an athlete who does just that on a wrestling mat.

Tony Mustari may look like a normal high school kid in street clothes, but put him in a Central singlet and his chiseled physique reveals anything but a normal 17-year-old.

The Wildcat junior wouldn’t look out of place among super heroes.

You could even call it incredible.

The Tribune simply calls him the 2004 Athlete of the Year in wrestling.

Recommended Stories For You

Mustari has dedicated his time to getting bigger and stronger, five days a week for two years.

He’s gone from skinny freshman to a Class 4A back-to-back state champ who can bench press nearly twice his own weight.

“He’s definitely the strongest kid in our room, at least pound for pound,” Central coach Duff Knott said. “He was light as a freshman and had to gain weight to compete. But he’s put on 10 or 15 pounds of solid muscle.”

Mustari cruised to a 43-0 season at 112 pounds this season and improved his career mark to 117-11. You’ll find his name in the Central history books and in national wrestling publications — he’s a national champion, too.

And he just keeps looking for more.

“My step dad Rob told me to keep working like I am and that it would pay off,” Mustari said. “This is just the start of a long run. When I was younger, I never thought I’d get this far. I’ll just keep working hard to achieve more, a college national championship, even an Olympic medal.”

Last summer Mustari won a national freestyle championship and earned All-America honors for the fourth time.

He lost just one match in his 4A state title run at 103 pounds last season.

But one of his most impressive feats came outside of wrestling.

Mustari took his love for weightlifting and competed in powerlifting last year. And in his first year of competition, he won a state lifting title at 114 pounds.

He outlifted the runner-up by more than 100 pounds.

“He’s probably the strongest kid in the nation right now,” said Denny Taylor, Mustari’s weightlifting coach for the past two years.

Mustari is a hulk among little guys — he can also squat and deadlift 315 pounds.

“It goes to show his overall work ethic,” Knott said. “Even after we would get through with practice he would go lift.”

It’s all play for Mustari, who said he would hit the weights at 5 a.m. if he could.

Some days Taylor’s toughest job may be chasing Mustari out of the gym.

It all has others who workout with Taylor in awe.

“He’s about the same size as me, but he’s just ripped,” said Jesse Miller, 14-year-old Franklin Middle School student who also trains with Taylor.

With his academic (3.7 gpa) and athletic success, Mustari has become a role model for younger athletes like Miller.

“He spots me sometimes. He’s so small, but strong. I’ve been to a few of his matches and he’s really good.”

Mustari knows his strength has been key.

“Lifting has helped me tremendously,” he said. “The bigger and stronger someone is, the harder it is to compete with them.”

The proof? — 17 pins, 11 technical falls and 11 major decisions in 43 bouts this season. He gave up only 23 points and went 16 matches without getting scored on. The streak started with a 17-0 major decision against last year’s , Roosevelt’s Joe Gonzales, then a two-time Class 3A state champ at 103 pounds.

Mustari never trailed in a match this season, outscored opponents 40-3 in the state tournament and was taken down just once. No one came close to scoring a near fall against this Wildcat.

Adding strength to his signature move made it difficult.

“I do cheap tilts and being stronger has helped quite a bit,” Mustari said. “When you get someone down it’s easier to keep them there awhile if you’re stronger. It’s an advantage if you can hold them there and get two or three extra points and break open a match.”

Breaking open matches all season is just what Mustari did, becoming just the second Central wrestler to win back-to-back titles and the first to do it in 60 years.

But Knott said Mustari’s wrestling skills alone would be enough to make him an elite amid the country’s prep athletes. The strength is just like putting money away for a special occasion.

“What he’s doing is preparing for the next level,” Knott said. “His strength has helped him at this level, but his skills are very good. His strength makes him better at national tournaments.”

Along with his prep resume, it’s the recognition this nationally-ranked wrestler gets across the country that should land him a free ticket to anywhere.

“With the success that he’s had, I would think he would be able to choose any college,” Taylor said.